Macrophotograph of a wolf spider Pirata piraticus, walking across the surface of a pond. This species of spider lives in marshes, on the edge of ponds

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Macrophotograph of a wolf spider Pirata piraticus, walking across the surface of a pond. This species of spider lives in marshes, on the edge of ponds, and ventures out onto the water in search of prey. It relies on surface water tension and floating pond plants to hunt across the water. Pirata piraticus is a Lycosid spider with eyes arranged in three rows (seen here): a small lower set of four eyes; two larger median eyes above this; a pair of eyes on the side of the head. Eyesight is important for hunting; these spiders move rapidly; and they have large fanged mouthparts by which to despatch a poisonous bite.

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Size: 5083px × 3543px
Photo credit: © CLAUDE NURIDSANY & MARIE PERENNOU/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: animal, arachnida, eyes, invertebrates, nature, pirata, piraticus, plant, spider, surface, tension, type, walking, water, wildlife, wolf, zoology